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188 of their establishments, it is feared would ultimately reduce the people to the utmost state of irritation." The chief alarm of the Anti-Federalists, however, was over the fact that all these positions would probably be filled with Federahsts by President Adams before he went out of ofBce. They soon found their worst fears fully realized. The bill was enacted into law on February 13, 1801 ; within thirteen days, Adams sent to the Senate a complete list of nominations for the new Judgeships, chosen practically entirely from members of his own party ; and by March 2, the Senate had confirmed the last name.^ The appointment of these Judges who, from the fact that many of the commissions were filled out on the last day of Adams' term of ofBce, became derisively known as the "Mid- night Judges", naturally caused intense indignation to JeflFerson and all his party. The criticism in the Republican newspapers was widespread and savage. That "Mr. Adams is laying the foundation of future faction and his own shame" was the common comment. "The close of Mr. Adams' Administration was marked with all the folly and wickedness that it was ever distinguished for," wrote Wilson C. Nicholas to John Breckenridge of Kentucky. "The Judiciary bill has been crammed down our throats, without a word or a letter being suflfered to be altered," wrote Stevens Thomson Mason. "A new Judiciary system has been adopted with a view to make permanent provision for such of the Federalists and Tories as cannot hope

^ For Uie Federalist view of the merita of this statute, see letters of Robert Goodloe Harper, May 16, 1800, Feb. 26, 1801, James A. Bayard Papers (1915). For list of the "Midnight Judges" see Amer, Law Rev., X, 408; Hieiory cf American Bar (1911), by Charles Warren, 352. Of the sixteen Circuit Judges, six were promoted from the position of District Judge, and to the vacant District Judgeships thereby created, three Senators and one Representative were named. Two Representatives also were appointed as District Attorneys in place of two of these officials who were appointed as Judges. The Judiciary Ad cj 180U by Max Farland* Amm. Hist, Rev. (1900), I ; Aurora, Feb. 24, 1801.